FAQ

Algarra, B, Jerome, L, Ullah, A A, Iqbal, J & Shahid, A et al (2006) ‘Teachers notes: 3 generations of Bengalis in Britain’, London, Nirmul Committee

Ahmed, Faruque (2016) Shaptahik Janomot: Muktijudder Ononno Dalil in Bengali, Dhaka, Ittadi Grantho Prokash Ahmed, Faruque (2016) Shaptahik Janomot: Muktijudder Ononno Dalil in Bengali, Dhaka, Ittadi Grantho Prokash

Ahmed, Faruque (2010) Bengal Politics in Britain: Logic, Dynamics and Disharmony, North Carolina, Lulu Publications

Ahmed, Faruque (2020) Bengali Settlement in Britain, Dhaka, The University Press Limited

1. Bangladesh High Commission, London 
2. Bangladesh government
3. Banglapedia - the National Encyclopaedia of Bangladesh (2015) Asiatic Society of Bangladesh accessed on 19 February 2021 

Bangladesher Swadhinatar Rajat Jayanti Udjapon Committee (1997) Bangladesher Swadhinatar Rajat Jayanti Swarakgranta, London, The Committee to Celebrate the Silver Jubilee of Bangladesh Independence

Bass, Garry (2013) THE BLOOD TELEGRAM: Nixon, Kissinger, and a Forgotten Genocide A riveting history - the first full account--of the involvement of Richard Nixon and Henry Kissinger in the 1971 atrocities in Bangladesh that led to war between India and Pakistan 

Caroline Adams went to Calcutta, India, where she became a volunteer in the Cathedral Relief Service, and got involved with the care of refugees during the Bangladesh War in 1971 https://www.theguardian.com/news/2001/jun/23/guardianobituaries1

Chowdhury, Yousuf (1998) Akattore Bilet Probashi in Bengali, Dhaka, Ishan Prokashani

Chowdhury, Abu Sayeed (2012) Probashe Muktijudder Dinguli in Bengali, Dhaka, The University Press Ltd

Eade, J., Ullah A. A., Iqbal, J. and Hey, M. (2006) First chapter of Tales of Three Generations of Bengalis in Britain, London, Nirmul Committee.

Matin, Abdul (1989) Swadhinata Sangrame Prabashi Bangali, London, Radical Asia Publications

Mannan, Sheikh Abdul (1998), Muktijudde Juktorajyer Bangalir Obodan, Dhaka, Jotsna Publisher

Mookherjee, Nayanika (2015) Spectral Wound: Sexual Violence, Public Memories, and the Bangladesh War of 1971 Investigation of the lives of violated women of the 1971 war

Moiz Abdul Majid (2020) Ecologies of Emancipation: The Mukti Bahini, Rivers and the Unravelling of Pakistan.

Rauf, Mahmoud A (2016) Tritio Bangali Muktijuddo in Bengali, Dhaka, Bud Publications

Rahman, Ferdous (2009) Probashe Mahila Muktijoddha in Bengali, Dhaka, Shapla Prakashani

Swadhinata Trust link to interviews of 1971 Bengali activists in the UK   and link to Bangladesh history

Tower Hamlets MP Peter Shore and the Warden of Toynbee Hall Donald Chesworth supported Bangladesh’s struggle for independence. Bangladesh Government formally recognised their contribution by honouring them in 2012.

Toki, R, Jahanshahi, R, Khanom, H & Rahman, A (2012) The Legacy of Women’s Contribution in 1971, London, Central London Youth Development Trust.

7 March Foundation https://www.7thmarch.com/

Links to some films/footage

Language movement

1. On 21 March 1948, Pakistan’s Governor Md Ali Jinnah addressed a public rally at the Ramna Racecourse Maidan (currently Suhrawardy Uddyan) where he declared that Pakistan's state language is going to be Urdu and no other language. 
   
   
2. Language movement by DFP
   Part 1 and Part 2 
   (© Courtesy to DFP, received through the Press Wing of Bangladesh High Commission, London) https://youtu.be/SznsX6ZA_zw (sourced from Public Diplomacy Wing of Ministry of Foreign Affairs received through the Press Wing of Bangladesh High Commission, London)
   
   
3. Concert for Bangladesh – first-ever world aid concert organised by former Beatles guitarist George Harrison and Indian Bengali sitar player Ravi Shankar. The concert was held on 1 August 1971, at Madison Square Garden in New York City, to raise international awareness, following the Bangladesh Liberation War-related genocide. The concerts were followed by a bestselling live album, which opened in cinemas in the spring of 1972.

7 March speech

1. 7 March 1971 speech by Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman
   
   
2. A song based on the historic 7 March speech of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman (Singer Carlyle Laurent, Lyric Abu Maruf, Concept Kamal Ahmed, Record Label: Imparting Ideas, Released 2021)
   
   
3. The 7 March Foundation and SOAS South Asia Institute, University of London jointly inaugurated Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Annual Lecture in 2018. The talk was delivered by Professor James Manor titled ‘Understanding Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’

Genocide

• NBC footage of Dhaka University killings 
  
  
• Stop Genocide (1971) - Shot and released during the 1971 war, Zahir Raihan’s 20-minute documentary features newsreel footage and photographs that draw parallels between the Pakistani army’s atrocities in Bangladesh, Nazi violence in the Third Reich, and the bombing of Vietnam by American forces.

War

1. (Nine Months to Freedom - This film shows the impact of the war of nine months. Director S. Sukhdev)
   
   
2. Matir Moina – The Clay Bird (2002) Tareque Masud’s autobiographical debut is a poignant look at a rural Muslim family grappling with both religious fundamentalism and the nationalist movement. The film is set a few years before the Liberation War. In one scene, the independent-minded Ayesha Bibi observes, “Earlier there was a heaven-and-hell difference between home and what was outside of it, now it feels the same”
3. Moushumi Bhowmik’s Jessore song and Jessore Road highlighting the plight of refugees. 
     
4. Muktir Gaan film documents a cultural troupe inspiring Bengali resistance fighter across the region in 1971. Interview and audio recording from Swadhinata Trust Music project of Mahmudur Rahman Benu who features in Muktir Gaan.
   
   
5. The second film, Muktir Kotha, looks at the wartime experiences, including the role of women in the war.
   
   
6. Guerrilla (2011) Bengali star Jaya Ahsan plays a freedom fighter taking on Pakistani forces while also searching for her missing journalist husband. The highlights include Ahmed Rubel playing Altaf Mahmud, the Bangladeshi freedom fighter and songwriter who popularised the revolutionary song Amar Bhaiyer Rokte Rangano.
   
   
7. Following Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s release on 8 January 1972 from Pakistan, he addresses a press conference in London.

Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO)

The LADO is responsible for managing and overseeing allegations made against staff or volunteers. The role is to ensure that allegations are dealt with in a fair, timely, and thorough manner. Contact LADO immediately for either a consultation or when allegation meets the threshold. The LADO will offer guidance on next steps and ensure the appropriate agencies are involved.

Police

If an allegation involves a criminal offence, the police must be contacted so that any criminal aspect of the allegation can be considered and investigated. The police will work with social care and the LADO to determine whether the staff member will be investigated for any criminal offence.

Children’s Social Care

If there are safeguarding concerns, Children’s Social Care should be involved to assess the child’s safety and wellbeing, provide support, and ensure a safeguarding plan is in place for the child if necessary.

An allegation might involve a staff member or volunteer who has: 

• Harmed a child or put a child at risk
• Committed a criminal offence against a child
• Inappropriate relationship with a child
• Behaved in a way that indicates they are unsuitable to work with children (this includes behaviours outside of work, often referred to as transferable risks).

Transferable risks from personal life

Sometimes, concerns arise about the personal life of a staff member or volunteer that may pose risks to children they work with. Examples include:

• Domestic abuse incidents
  • Criminal behaviour not directly related to work with children
  • Concerns about mental health or substance misuse.

A low-level safeguarding concern

This is any behaviour by an adult working with children that doesn’t meet the threshold for a formal allegation but still raises questions about their conduct. This might include actions like being overly familiar with a child, using inappropriate language, or not following professional boundaries.

The LADO is available for consultation on these matters as it is important that these concerns are acknowledged and addressed early to prevent escalation and ensure the safety and well-being of children, while also supporting the adult to improve their practice.

If you are dissatisfied with the outcome from the LADO procedures, the complaint needs to be submitted to the LADO’s line manager.

If you wish to complain about aspects of the investigation, it has to be directed to the organisation/ agency that completed it. To initiate a complaint, please contact SQA@towerhamlets.gov.uk.